Mary Jane Fouts

Mary Jane Fouts, 88, of Caldwell passed away on October 29, 2011. Mary was born to Jerry and Abbie Frick on September 23, 1923, in Gooding Idaho. She grew up in Gooding with her older sister Edith and little brother Jerry and enjoyed sports, sewing and piano. She was a state champion tennis player in high school and graduated from Gooding High School in 1940. Mary was a stenographer and bookkeeper for a judge in Gooding until she was offered a job as the bookkeeper for the Jerome School District, a position that she held for several years. Mary married Harley T. Fouts on June 19, 1946, in Bremerton, Washington. Mary and Harley lived in Holdredge, Nebraska for three years where she worked as a secretary for the Chamber of Commerce. Their daughter Katherine Marie was born in Nebraska and only lived a few months. They came Boise in 1949 where their two sons, Harley Steven “Steve”, and Philip Wayne were born. Mary held bookkeeping positions for Yanke Machine Shop and Boise Ice and Cold Storage until 1964 when she and Harley decided to start their own business and moved to Caldwell. Mary and Harley owned and operated Boise Valley Monument Company in Caldwell from 1964 until their retirement. Mary worked many years in the company alongside Harley and their boys. She was active in Soroptimist International, Lady Elks, and her much loved bridge club. She was an active member of the Caldwell United Methodist Church and served as the secretary and treasurer for a number of years. Mary was well loved by many of Steve and Phil’s friends and she knew how to feed those guys. Among her “favorite boys” were Gordon Eldredge, Rich Paulson, Cal Clevenger, Steve “Smirth” Smirthwaite, and Dennis Laramie. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, sister Edith, daughter Katherine, and son Steve. Survivors include her husband, Harley, son Phil (Leona) Fouts, daughter-in-law Jewel Fouts, brother Jerry Frick of Bremerton, sister-in law Lois Benton of Boise; grandchildren Karie Marie Fouts, Kelley Dawn Harding, Philip Jacob Fouts and Joseph Harley Fouts; great-grandsons Kedrick and Gavin Harding; and many much-loved nieces and nephews. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 11:00am on Friday, November 4th, at the United Methodist Church at 824 Logan St. in Caldwell. Interment will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Mary’s online guestbook is available at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com. Service Information